M Springtime Family Session | Maryland

“Once in awhile,
right in the middle of an ordinary life,
love gives us a fairy tale.”
Unknown

As I was pregnant with my first child, I photographed Shelby through the story of her third child. We did a (stunning... who looks like that when pregnant... and in labor... and post-partum?!) maternity session, the birth, and the first family portraits with the new baby.  Despite being the oldest of a large family, having a mom who wanted to be a midwife or doula, and preparing for a natural labor myself... I had never seen a real live birth until photographing this family. Watching Esme be born, in her home, as well and healthily and beautifully as she was, meant very much to me. 

A few weeks after I had my second baby, I was able to photograph these wonderful people once more... on a perfectly "Spring As Its Own Analogy" Day. The sky was the color of concrete, the water running through the park was a shade of dark olive, and the brown wood was saturated and looked wet (because it was). And yet, there was GREEN all-around us, and, more excitingly, there were flower buds. Pale white, lively pink, and yellow! It's special to watch the world come back to life. We know the concept of "every winter turns to spring" and how this matches personal life seasons, not just earth's. But what I loved the most about this session, as far as setting goes, was that as we were finished and walking back to our cars sun light ran through the field. As if it had placed its hand on the curtain and slowly pulled the drape-in-the-sky back for a final few minutes.

Even though we had already congratulated the girls on a job well done! And promised them that they were, indeed, done. I had to command/ask the family to gather back for "just two minutes!!" I snapped furiously. When least expected, light has a way of startling and capturing. More beautiful than we thought would happen (at least that evening), and a golden reminder that... the best is yet to come. Spring in a nutshell.

Esme is one of those people who love instantly upon seeing her. Her enormous eyes, bright lips, full head of red curly hair, facial expressions, and way of walking... ugh. They seize you. 

So many beautiful girls!

Brian, Shelby, Riley, Laila, and Esme... you're a fairy-tale-come-true, and a family filled with so much love and spunk. (And mom and dad? You're outstanding parents. Affectionate, engaged, helpful to each other, roll-up-your-sleeves-lets-do-this, great sense of humor, relaxed, and a great team. I love getting to watch dynamics like that from behind a camera. You're the coolest!)

Shelby Leigh + Brian + Their Baby | Birth Story

in these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will diewhere you invest your love, you invest your life
MUMFORD & SONS - AWAKE MY SOUL

Caleb and I drove down their street.  House after house, virtually the same in story.  Porch lights on, maybe a window or two bright, the yard dark - most of the house dark - cars in park out front.  It was 8:30 pm and the end of a middling workday, in the middle of a fussy winter.   The outside of the Metzger home was forgettably normal in the lines of homes.  But inside.  Inside the walls, where only a select few could see, there was a nativity scene.










Brian greeted me at the door - he was on his way to heat up a slice.  "Everyone is upstairs! Go on ahead!"  Shelby's laughter made me a little bummed.  "Man, she must not be very far along if she's giggling like that."  She waved and rocked on her bouncy ball.  I "scolded" her ;) "You sound way too cheerful for a lady who is in labor!"  "Oohhh, it's just because I'm not having a contraction right now! Hahah! You'll see!" She barely finished her sentence before she silently buried her head.  Her two daughters eased from the floor onto the bed.  They watched her strength.  And gave pats of honor and love when Shelby's moans were heaviest.   Shelby's mom told her what a wonderful job she was doing.






Aside from the occasional grunts and "ooooooooOOOOOOOO's!" and the midwives in matching t-shirts, the evening felt weirdly like a typical evening.  There wasn't hub-bub or eerie silence or beeping.  The tub was filling with water, Mumford & Sons was playing, leftovers were on the counter.  Instead of feeling like normal life had been frozen in time with the labor progressing, it felt like normal life was indeed happening.  And it was.  Together.  Eating pizza, making mom laugh, and having a baby.  It was weirdly unweird.









By 9:00 Shelby was in her own bathtub, in her own clothes, with her own family tipping water onto her working body.  If I could dream up an analogy, it reminded me of highschool soccer games in September: when I'd come off the field at halftime and open my water bottle - not to drink - to pour on my head.  Spill it all over.  Mom and Brian spilled and spilled.  Her body was working harder than a soccer athlete.  And her baby was ready to meet her life on the outside.













Shelby's midwives were so calm.  They were very hands-off, yet gently "in charge." The first laugh I heard from Shelby when I walked up the stairs happened to also be the last laugh.  It was almost like the baby knew "Alright, everyone is here now."  The hour and a half in the bathtub proved to be terrible and yet efficient, and also genuinely beautiful.  Labor is like war, this battle a mother (and father and "support team") wage for the prize of delivery itself; to win skin-to-skin and eye contact; to obtain a person in your arms and announce "Welcome! You are so loved!"  I'm not sure who the enemy is, but the battle is real and vicious.

Shelby's "breaks" in-between contractions were short and honestly still exhausting.  She would close her eyes and take a few deep breaths and then, a new wave of movement and pain would surround her.  She fought hard.  They all did.

In the final few minutes of the labor, Shelby fumbled out a weary "I can't.  I can't do this. She's not coming and I can't do this."  Brian held her hand tighter.  "Yes you can.  You are.  This is incredible.  You're doing it.  She's coming, baby.  You can do it.  It's almost over."

With new resolve, Shelby decided she was done.  She had been in consistent labor for over 24 hours, active labor for the last four, and transition for over an hour now.  It was time.  Little Girl, Mama said "Come!"









In as much time as it would take for me to walk to their mailbox and back, the family changed.  Esme Rose was in their arms, with her pudgy, formed arms, dark soft hair, and immediately kissable cheeks.


Their joy was full.  In the calming quiet of night, they celebrated like a town greeting the victorious soldiers!  Tears, hugs, emotional feasting!










To quote the profound Ash Parsons:

"The moments of pain and the moments of joy are not as far apart as we may think."  

Honestly, pain and joy seem to be two hands that are best when held.  One just isn't quite the same without the other.  Pain and Joy tell a story, a story we all know chapters of.  Some understand the story, and others have only heard the story.  Pain is rescued by the promise of Joy, and Joy is sweetened by the demands of Pain.  Pain and Joy tell the story of Esme Rose.


Happy First Day of Life, young lady.  You'll always know it, but someday when you look at these images, try to let the love of your family hug you even closer.  Your mama is a determined, smart lover.  Your dad is kind and good.  Your sisters are doting, bright and quick.  Your grandmother is loyal and lovely.  And together they worked for you, together they cried and piled onto a bed to fight over who you looked at first.   They studied every little wrinkle and roll.  All eyes and hearts were on you, amazed to just be in your presence.  And I think you'll be pleased to realize this love and devotion isn't rare; it's weirdly typical of your entire life.

Story Time 2013 | An I'm Kristen Workshop

“stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do.  stories always go on.  they don't end on the last page,  any more than they begin on the first page.”
cornelia funke - inskpell | STORYTELLING |  the conveying of events in words, images and sounds,  often by improvisation, imagination or embellishment.  stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of  entertainment, education, cultural preservation and to instill values. 
crucial elements of stories and storytelling include  who is in them, where it happened, and the details of the plot. | STORIES MUST BE TOLD | This spring, and also this fall, we will collect and with our hearts, stories and cameras, come to enliven and influence each other.  I suppose this is a photography workshop, but please don't be deceived or disappointed.   This is more about listening for, caring about and wanting the story.  We will watch moving pictures, read out loud, hear music, be together, be alone and take photographs.   Like the children who gather around grandpa's big chair, waiting for a tale, we will listen for the story.  We'll have a photoshoot every single day - with different people to work with and learn about.  This will be no "Follow me around, see how I posed her arm, I'm on f-stop 2.5" shoot.  This will be a "Study your subject, and figure out a way to tell everyone else what you learned about her with your camera."  
The stories are everywhere.  Every portrait shoot.  Every wedding.  Every household.  Every shop.  Every person.  They're there.  Are you looking?  We'll be looking this spring in a three-day workshop.  More details to come soon.  Very soon. -- Here's to the story about the pull-up-ed-jell-sandal-ed-flower-girl waiting to see her aunt in bridal glory. Here's to the wrinkles. Here's to the first morning of life and Edith and Meepers.    

Here's to the story about marriage, penny-pinching, good coffee and opening a shop.

Here's to the last winter in Florida and sun that never stops.

Here's to my own life.

And here's to her life!

Here's to the story of an 100-degree-wedding-day and a baby-girl becoming a bride.

Here's to a baby girl becoming a three-year-old girl.  And here's to donuts! And ties!

Here's to the food that helps Autumn grow!

And here's the nights that live forever, or so.

Here's to the story of the surprise triplets (and their fingers, and toes, and lips.)

Here's to grandma's pearl necklace, and why she wore it everyday.  Until this day... when she gave the necklace away.

Here's to wrinkles, again.

Here's to the faces that know waiting, but also know joy.

Here's to dads with their baby girls (dads who used to be little boys.)

Here's to big best friends,

and here's to little best friends, too.

And here's to the story about finally finding your way home, after all you've gone through.

Here's to the crazy ones, the elegant ones, the dancers and the thinkers...

Here's to roaring laughter, colored ink, spins and silver bands on happy fingers.

Here's to today and now,

and taking lots of pictures.

Five Guys Bags | Enjoy Writing

sweetest invitation, 

breaking the day in two

i'll wait for you

virginia moon - foo fighters

My mom carefully and happily my younger brother's returned school paper to me.  I think it's the best writing I've read all month.  Or maybe the most beautiful.  Or maybe just my favorite.  I don't know.  Most pre-teens, for a Thanksgiving assignment, would shoot off the easy ones "I'm thankful for my family, my friends, food and a home."  But then again, my brother isn't like most pre-teens.

I'm Thankful For... [By Little But Growing Brother]

I'm thankful for the sound when you open a Snapple, because it's refreshing and relaxing.  I'm thankful for every rainbow I see, because it's a promise from God.  I'm thankful for the people who rented our house, because they didn't use all the firewood we left and now we have some.  I'm thankful for my Call of Duty Modern Warfare games, because they give me some sense to the fact that our country could be attacked.  I'm thankful for today, because I got to experience another great day of my life.  I'm thankful for hearing my favorite song come on the radio because it relaxes me.  I'm thankful for the cold side of the pillow because it helps me sleep at night.  I'm thankful for every time something is cheaper than I thought it was, because it saves money.  I'm thankful for the amount of fries in a Five Guys bag, because it's more than I paid for.  I'm thankful for every time I'm early to somewhere, because I don't have to be nervous about being late.

Do you have any "random" but thoughtful grateful-s today?  Mine is probably the black shutters on our house.  I love black shutters. 

Juliana Kate | Baby Portraits

A couple of years ago Alex + Lauren decided to hunker on down and be each other's always and one and only.   Just before two years of ooey-gooey-marriage-goodness ( ;) ), they found out that they were not just "man" and "wife" but "mama" and "daddy"!  Juliana Kate is now in their arms and in their home.
The first few days of Jules' life turned out to be quite scary.  Right away her breathing wasn't as strong as it should have been.  Baby One was whisked away to the NICU.  The next 48 hours included poor jaundice levels, a possible seizure and some - okay, maybe more - tears.   But now she is eight days old, fit as a fiddle, home and making their world sweeter with every passing hour.   While she was in the NICU Mama Lauren would come rub her cheeks and sing her pretty songs.  Even at this young age, she responds with pure delight when she hears her mother sing.  I didn't really believe Lauren when she told me she smiles a lot - especially during songs.  But, check it out for yourself!


We haven't even covered the beauty of this baby.  Eight days old and almost oddly flawless.  Not a wrinkle, pimple, rash, bump or funny new-baby "issue."  To be honest, I even think the little old man hound dog scrunches or zitty-fresh faces are super cute!  It's just part of being brand new!  But this little looker is made from porcelain.  I didn't edit a single thing from her face.  No blending or cloning or band-aiding.  And she's not even seven pounds.  Tiny, smooth and happy... gaaaah!



Alex and Lauren are dear with her.  He is a broad, dark, ex-hockey-playing, adventurous manly man.  She is sweet, tender, very careful and glowing.   They did everything as a team.  They both know her cries, one holds her head while the other lifts the shirts on, they know the "tricks" their little lady especially likes.



I just... I mean... right?






I love when babies make grumpy faces in their sleep.  I feel like that's my face when someone turns the light on in a dark room when I'm asleep.  I'm all "eeeeeeeh!" with my grump face ;)



Note to self: buy my daughters small white bows.  They're angelic.


Juliana was so much fun because she was SO alert.  She was looking around at all kinds of things!  She had my camera shutter to catch her attention, her mama calling her name, her dad walking around in the back-round... and she was very aware of all the "fuss."  She kept her eye on us... until, of course, that just got exhausting.


Welcome to your family and to this wild-giddy-yap thing called life.  We're so delighted that you're here and that God wanted to make you.  Your parents are super cool - they've prayed so much for you, and they are smitten with you.  I wish I had taken a video of them getting you ready for this pictures.  You probably would have laughed watching it someday... but then gotten a little teary, too.  They love you.  Oh!  And you have some crazy great aunts, uncles and cousins.  Yeah, you're gonna have a good life.


All my love and gentle squeezes! Muah!

Matt | Senior Portraits | Letter To High School Students

it was rare, 
it was there i remember it 
all too well   
taylor swift - all too well

A Quick Note To High School Students,

Your life is so much stupid, delicious, brilliant fun.   Have so much fun.  With whatever you have fun doing.  You are old enough, and real enough, to understand pain and to have worthy questions (then again, three-year-olds have splendid questions, too) and to be very, very confused.  But mostly, kids, your life is so much fun.  Some of you are lollipops - sweet and colorful and fairly simple and very hard to break.  Some of you are like bubble gum - constantly changing and easily popped and a little broken and very good.  Some of you are like dark chocolate - feeling a little too old for "this" and not sure where you fit with all these tart sweets and, well, mature beyond your years and ready to be done with high-school.  Some of you are Nerds, AirHeads and a very sour bear.  But, you're all candy... which is fantastic.  ("Um, dark chocolate is not candy."  I know, I know.)

Here's a quick thought for you: even if you're very mature, you're still only in high school.  So savor being a high-schooler.   I know, I know, I know... everyone tells you to enjoy it now! It goes by so fast!   Be content!  But be responsible!  The reality is that you're doing these fun little grown-up things like driving around town, figuring out your passions and personality, making a little bit of money and you're also doing so many little kid things like wearing braces, taking tests and not doing all your own paperwork for life (no really, go kiss your mother RIGHT NOW for all the insurance and social security and financial and tax forms she takes care of for you.)

Have fun.  And chill out.  And do what's fun to you.  Chill-ly.  If you just like to curl up alone and read - go for it.  Someday you're going to have to support yourself and pay bills and you won't be able to read this much.  Or if you're really social, go to all the concerts and all the games and all the outings.  And spend an hour or two getting ready, because you can.  Oh, I know.  You'll tell me you're so busy with homework. SO BUSY.  Figure out how to chill out, now.   But, if you really love school and learning and doing homework, and that's fun to you - go for it, kid.  Just make sure you're best friends are the zany ones.  This will help you be a balanced person.

Life gets significantly better after high school, but there is also nothing like high school.  Nothing.  And I was home-schooled ;)  Be stupid and silly and safe and fearless and annoying and sharp and wild and free.  You're finishing up kid-hood.  The ante gets higher real soon, and real fast.  The stakes rise.  No matter how mature you are now, you will see a new, deeper, hurt-ier world when you're an adult.  It's just part of growing up.  You have to fight a little harder to be wide-eyed and glowy.   Your schedule isn't predictable.  You don't have "summers-off."  You never get the freedom that you have right now ever again.  Stay up late, and flirt with your crush, and sleep-in, and, well, I don't know how to say it: do what is fun to you.  You're literally free to.  I miss it.  I never want to go to high school ever again, but my heart expands and grows teddy-bear fur when I remember it.  I loved those stupid, delicious, brilliant years.

Happy High School,
A Sentimental Newlywed Adult, Business Woman and High School Graduate






Congratulations on your senior year, Matt.  Have fun.  

Where We Live | Personal

"with these hands i'm gonna build our home

if we ain't got it,
i'll make it."
dave barnes - since you said i do

When Caleb first came to Maryland in May 2011, he was planning on staying for six weeks.  The whole story is coming up soon in the Oh My My My series, so I won't tell too much right now.  BUT!  My dad hired Caleb to finish his basement (remember my parents were in Florida?  And they had someone renting their Maryland house?  Did I ever say that?  Well.  That's the story.)  While the renters lived upstairs, Caleb and my brother completed the doooownstairs.

I'd swing by with hot lunch, or coke slurpees, or just a hug.  Those first few weeks of dating were simple and special (and emotional.  I'll tell more later.)  One particular day, Caleb had a deadline (the walls needed to be painted because the carpet guys were coming Monday morning.)  It's a big hunkin' basement, and he couldn't finish it.  I came over to help him.  We painted for hours and hours.  From sun-up to sun-down.  Lots of talking, and also lots of silence.  It was hard work, but fun to do it with him.

 And then... a year after he finished the project, we moved into the most perfect, big, beautiful, best-painted "apartment" we could have dreamed of (minus the blue-leaf carpet.  But we had no say in that.  And.  If that is the only thing we can complain about? Psh.  We have it durn'good.).  Before the wedding (aka: two weeks before the wedding) Caleb and his brother installed a kitchen (thank you, Dad!).  What was going to be a small wall of cabinets turned into a 15-piece, full-fledge, ENORMOUS first kitchen for us.   

I moved into our house before Caleb did.  But I wasn't there when "the move" happened.  You see, I was in Florida with my mom and some of the kids.  We drove all the cars back up from Florida.  My dad and the boys drove the moving trucks a few days ahead of us.  Before the girl-crew made it to Maryland, Caleb and Daniel moved my stuff out of Dre + Becca's house into the new house.  This all happened the 100-degree summer week where the power went out for days... and this trip was also the trip mom, Pam and I finished and mailed out the wedding invitations from a hotel.   The week after mom had chemo.  It was a full summer.  BUT!  Within hours of arriving home, the power was back on and Caleb started hanging frames in our living room.  

All in all, this apartment has become a crucial part of our story.  Caleb literally built it with his own two hands.  It was the way he not only supported himself (and his new little girlfriend) but also the way he was able to start a business in Maryland.   It's the home I've done seven or so years of living in.  It's the home that I had to prepare to rent all by myself, and wasn't sure if I'd ever live in again.  It's the home of so many firsts for Caleb and I.   First married birthdays, first shared bedroom, first dinner party, first (and second) round of stomach bugs/poison ivy/disease, first place for Kristen Morris to ever live.  First place Caleb Morris ever came home to his wife. 

I haven't posted much about this treasure chest of a home, but I was prompted by Kristin Partin on my instagram to show "mooooore pictures!"  Our home is filled with reminders of people:  from pictures, to custom art, to gifts from literally hundreds of friends who blessed us at our wedding and receptions, to real faces who hang out with us.  Consider this an open invitation to invite yourself over and be a part of our home.  We want more memories, more stories and more love... so come come.   Welcome to the Morris Home.

ps.  Caleb has some more "Before + Afters" on his construction page!  They're fun!

Lauren Loo Bear | Child Portraits

“she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, after time,
 be herself a grown woman...
and how she would gather about her other little children,  and make their eyes bright and eager 
and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows,  and find a pleasure in all their simple joys." lewis carroll - alice in wonderland She is full of life, personality, expression and beauty.   My baby sister is kind of a young woman.  Enjoy getting to know one of the best people I know.